The Gainesville school system is introducing a new channel of communication between the schools, families and the community.

The Family and Community Engagement Nights will open school buildings for people to participate in activities and receive information from the schools and community agencies.

“It’s another opportunity for our families and our community members to be able to come together and engage with each other,” said Jarod Anderson, director of learning supports with the city school system. “We have our parent meetings, of course, but we wanted these to be just a little bit different in addition to getting information.”

The setting will be informal, encouraging interaction between parents and school leaders. Certain community organizations will be available with information as well, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County, Avita Community Partners and Center Point.

The idea behind these meetings was born out of parental and community survey results. Anderson said parents expressed a variety of interests in topics impacting their children, and that’s the information he hopes will be disseminated to families during these meetings. Some of the areas of interest included health and nutrition for children, and financial aid for post-secondary education.

“Ideally, we are encouraging (families) to go back home and engage in dialogue,” he said. “We want to share some things with the hopes that it will generate some conversations.”

The first FACE Night is Tuesday, 6-7:30 p.m. at Gainesville High School.